The Most Dangerous Roads in the World Are a Stunning Sight
.Driving along the edge of a cliff takes your breath away so intensely that it can be compared to skydiving!
The Atlantic Road in Norway
A unique road built specifically for tourists. The Atlantic Road connects small islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The stunning landscapes that greet tourists should not distract from the main thing: preserving one's own safety. The fact is that powerful waves often wash cars into the ocean here.
Dalton Highway in Alaska
The Dalton Highway is one of the most isolated roads in the world. Interestingly, its length is 666 kilometers. Along it, you can find only three settlements, each with no more than 30 residents.
Asphalt covers only 175 kilometers of this road; the rest is gravel. By the way, this highway is often featured on American television as the most dangerous road in the world. Authorities strongly recommend that those planning a trip on this route stock up on essentials and medical supplies.
This road is considered the snowiest in the world, so drivers can lose control of their vehicles at any moment, and help may not arrive quickly.
Karnali Highway, Nepal
The 250-kilometer Karnali Highway in Nepal claims the lives of 50 people each year. The road is a very narrow strip of land bordering a cliff. It is tight even for motorcycles, let alone cars.
For most of the year, passage for cars is prohibited.
Narrow paths, treacherous potholes, 180-degree turns, and regular rain-induced landslides pose a deadly threat to anyone daring to test their luck on this mountain road.
The high number of fatalities on the Karnali Highway is linked to the lack of guardrails, landslides, and rockfalls.
The Himalayan road is located high in the mountains. It is not by chance that it is among the most dangerous roads in the world. At the state level, the highway is no longer maintained, as a safer route has been constructed.
Despite the danger and the significant number of casualties, hundreds of vehicles travel here every day. The highway connects dozens of villages and is often the only way to reach certain settlements.
Trollstigen (Troll's Path) in Norway
Connecting two Norwegian cities, one of the most dangerous roads in the world, Trollstigen, is closed in winter and spring.
During this time, heavy snowfall leads to deadly avalanches and landslides.
In summer, however, hundreds and thousands of thrill-seeking tourists travel along the special route, which has 11 steep turns.
The "Troll Ladder" or "Troll Road" is one of Norway's most popular attractions. The scenic road, climbing the mountain slope with 11 sharp turns, attracts tourists from all over the world.
The Norwegian government understands that this is one of the most dangerous roads, and they are trying to widen this road located on the mountainside.
Lippincott Mine Road, USA
Death Valley is a creepy place in itself, but since we are talking about creepy roads, it is only logical that one of them is located here.
The highway runs along sheer cliffs at a height of 60 meters and is filled with steep descents and ascents, making the trip dangerous for any driver, presenting a true test of their driving skills.
Moreover, since you are going to drive through the desert, make sure you have enough water and food, and that your vehicle is in excellent condition. There is no cell service here, so anyone who gets into trouble should be prepared for help to arrive much later than desired.
Atlas Mountain (Morocco)
This deep canyon in the Alto Atlas mountains in Morocco, east of Marrakech, has a road running through it. The place is known for its picturesque views and rocky landscapes, referred to as the "Brain of Atlas" (presumably due to its many twists and turns).
For centuries, the Dades Gorge has been eroded by river waters and is now a tourist attraction. The 116-kilometer road is considered one of the most dangerous in the world, especially during the river's flood season.
Col de Gua Pass, France
Incredible as it may seem, this road is only accessible for a few hours a day. The rest of the time, it remains submerged underwater. Before entering the 4.5-kilometer stretch, it is advisable to check the tide schedule; otherwise, your car may simply sink.
The "Road of Life" (Russia)
The unofficial title of "the dirtiest road" in the world belongs to the federal highway M-56 "Lena," which leads to Yakutsk.
But this is the only road in that direction. There are no other roads. And motorists are simply doomed to flounder in the mud.
That's why it's called the "road of life" – in rainy weather, it turns into an impassable swamp of mud, swallowing both trucks and tractors. Meanwhile, the city is in urgent need of food, fuel, and medicine...
Bridge over the Vitim River
The bridge is located in Siberia and looks like it could collapse at any moment. It appears very harsh. Wooden planks simply lie on the sleepers and are not secured in any way. However, this does not scare motorists. Travelers advise bringing tools to reinforce the road themselves. Otherwise, the risk of falling through the wheels is quite high.
The "Kolyma" Federal Highway, Russia
The official name of the federal highway Magadan – Yakutsk is "Kolyma," but it is often referred to ominously as the "road of death." The first 90 kilometers of the road were opened in 1932, and construction was completed in 1953, with the road being built by prisoners for 20 years.
Devil's Trampoline (Trampolín del Diablo), Colombia
Devil's Trampoline is the literal translation of the name of a Colombian mountain road known for its danger and narrowness. The higher you go up this road, the narrower it becomes. But the scariest part is the completely blind and very sharp turns. All this occurs while there is two-way traffic, with both cars and large buses traveling daily. The challenge of surviving on this serpentine is complicated by frequent fogs and steep cliffs. At the top of the mountain, daring travelers are greeted by the charming village of La Laguna and picturesque views.
Captain's Road in New Zealand
The Captain's Road was built in the 19th century to transport mining equipment by horse-drawn carts. This means that for modern cars averaging 1500 kg, this path can be the last.
The extremely loose and rain-soaked soil creates ideal conditions for landslides.
The road is gradually deteriorating, which is quite logical, as no repairs have been made here since 1900.
The gravel road is so narrow in some places that two oncoming cars cannot pass each other. To do so, one of them must reverse (sometimes for up to 3 kilometers) to finally find a spot where they can let each other through.
This mountain road with numerous steep descents in the gorge is so dangerous that it requires maximum concentration, patience, and even special permission to travel on it.
Interestingly, no insurance company insures tourists venturing onto one of the most dangerous roads in the world. After all, it's practically suicide!
Mount Vojak (Vojak), Croatia
This road is not to be trifled with. There is even a sign stating that drivers proceed at their own risk. This refers to the road leading to the summit of Mount Vojak, where a stone tower built by climbers in the early 20th century stands. In some sections, the gradient reaches 28.3%! With such drops, it is safer to walk than to drive…
Stelvio Pass in Italy
The well-known Stelvio Pass road connects Lombardy and Austria. It is the highest road in the Eastern Alps. Along the way, you will encounter 48 extremely steep turns. From above, this road resembles a child's scribble due to its whimsical, zigzagging loops.
Despite relatively good pavement, accidents are common, as the stunning landscapes that greet travelers often distract from sudden sharp turns. And the low concrete barrier cannot prevent a car from plunging into the abyss.
Fairy Meadows Road, Pakistan
Returning to Pakistan, we meet the Fairy Meadows Road, which rightfully earns its place on this list.
This road runs along Nanga Parbat, the ninth highest mountain in the world, so it is logical to assume two things: the views are breathtaking, but the road is one of the most dangerous.
This mountain road is completely unprotected and lacks guardrails on steep turns, so drivers embarking on the Fairy Meadows Road need maximum attention and driving skills.
Los Caracoles Pass, Chile
This road plays a key role for the country as it is the main route connecting it with neighboring Argentina. However, it is a true nightmare for drivers, filled with winding steep turns (over 20 turns) and spiraling down the Andes slope. So during your trip along it, you will have an incredible chance to see stunning mountain peaks.
It is worth mentioning that the Chilean section of the road is slightly worse than the Argentine one, but overall the entire route is quite dangerous and requires a lot of patience and courage from drivers.
Bayburt Of Yolu, Turkey
This road connecting two Turkish cities ranks ninth on our list for several reasons. In some sections, traffic is one-way only, in others, there is no road surface, and bad weather conditions do not help either, especially since there are no guardrails along its entire length to prevent falling into the abyss.
One section of the road is particularly terrifying: it runs at the very top of a mountain, making 13 sharp turns where the vehicle is completely unprotected. Even the toughest guys are afraid to drive on this road!
Kabul-Jalalabad, Afghanistan
The Kabul-Jalalabad highway is 60 km long and consists of a continuous series of steep turns and sharp cliffs. Terrible accidents happen here almost daily. But the cause lies not only in the road itself but also in the local drivers' disregard for traffic rules. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that the highway has been under the control of anti-government Taliban representatives for several years.
The death toll on the highway has hardly been recorded in recent years. But even the data available to local authorities allow this road to be named the most dangerous in Afghanistan and one of the deadliest on the planet.
Guoliang Tunnel, China
The famous Guoliang Tunnel, located in the Taihang Mountains, is a national landmark in China. The tunnel is 1.2 km long and was built by 13 locals over five years. Many of the builders died. The road was opened on May 1, 1977. Locals call the tunnel the road that allows no mistakes. This is not surprising, as its width is only 4 meters, and in some sections even less.
The tunnel has become a popular tourist attraction in China due to its many windows overlooking the valley. The Guoliang Tunnel is particularly dangerous to drive during the rainy season. Accidents occur here every year.
There are simply no barriers or guardrails. Considering that there are holes in the tunnel leading directly into the abyss, you can understand why this place is called the most dangerous road in the world.
Zojila Pass, India
The dangerous winding road Zojila Pass is located in Indian Kashmir. The road at the pass rises to an altitude of 3500 m and is over 11 km long. The pass is often closed in winter; local authorities try to clear the pass of snow to organize traffic, but this is not always successful. The road is very narrow, so traffic is one-way. Since vehicles cannot pass each other, they take turns letting each other go. Such conditions lead to fatal accidents.
Sichuan-Tibet Highway in China
Residents of Asian countries know that the Sichuan-Tibet Highway undoubtedly ranks among the most dangerous roads in the world. Frequent landslides, rockfalls, and collapses occur here quite often. Snow avalanches and lack of oxygen, which affects drivers' attentiveness, create extremely hazardous conditions.
Despite the stunning beauty of the mountain landscapes, this place is very dangerous. Interestingly, this road crosses more than 10 mountains.
Luxor-al-Hurghada Road (Egypt)
On this Egyptian highway, there are no cliffs, landslides, or floods. No stones will fall on your car, and two BelAZ trucks can pass each other. The main danger on this highway comes from bandits and terrorists. They rob cars and engage in kidnappings. Tourist buses in the region are almost always accompanied by military personnel.
After the increase in incidents involving criminals at night, people have almost stopped traveling this road after dark. And if they do have to travel at night, drivers do not turn on their headlights (it is said that the moon lights the road well). This has led to several head-on collisions, including fatal ones.
North Yungas Road in Bolivia
Finally, we will talk about the most dangerous road in the world. This is the North Yungas Road. Its other name is the "Death Road." It must be said that this name speaks for itself. More than 300 people die here each year, and dozens of cars and buses fall from great heights to their doom.
One of the most famous tragic accidents occurred in 1983 when a bus fell into the abyss. Over 100 passengers died that day. Interestingly, the road was built in 1930 by prisoners. It connects the cities of La Paz and Coroico, and there is simply no other route between them.
With a length of 70 kilometers, its average width is 3.5 meters. The depth of the abyss along most of the Yungas road is about 600 meters. The most dangerous spots are where even one car barely passes, with its wheels hanging over the abyss. Fog and downpours, which are a mandatory attribute of Amazonian weather, lead to numerous fatal situations.
Local residents, aware of the extreme threat to life, fear crossing this road, as in the event of an accident, emergency services will not come to you, and reaching the nearest hospital is also nearly impossible. It is noted that the wreckage of cars and numerous other traces of horrific accidents along the entire route have a particularly depressing effect on drivers.